Big Creek - 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground


Big Creek, North Carolina, US

 Disclaimer

1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground (Upper Big Creek)

Usual Difficulty IV-V (for normal flows)
Length 5.4 Miles
Avg. Gradient 238 fpm
Max Gradient 321 fpm

TR on Midnite


TR on Midnite
Photo of TR and KE by LE @ 2.5

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
OCONALUFTEE RIVER AT BIRDTOWN, NC
usgs-03512000 1200 - 2400 cfs IV-V 00h27m 594 cfs (rc= -0.5 )


River Description


Photo: Philip Curry from the bridge 2.5 miles upstream of the trailhead. Copyright Chris Bell.

This is a gorgeous run on a pristine river whose entire reach is within a National Park. Please respect other users and the natural environment. Minimize your impact in all ways possible.

The following description is courtesy of The Asheville Area Boating Beta Page (boatingbeta.com). To view it in a new window, click here.

Jim Sheppard in Monster, Upper Big Creek, NC. Copyright Chris Bell. Click for larger image. Big Creek, NC
Upper (Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground)

Class

Flow

Gauge
V 1200-2400 cfs Upper Big Creek is almost certainly running when the Oconaluftee is between 1,200 and 2,400 cfs; it is generally running when the Oconaluftee is as low 850 cfs. Once at the creek, confirm the level using the gauge painted on the river right piling of the bridge next to the picnic area near the confluence of Big Creek and the Big Pigeon; 1.5 feet is the minimum, 1.7 low optimal and 2.4 high optimal. It is unlikely Upper Big Creek has been paddled much above 3.0 feet -- it gets much harder as the level rises.

It is often true that when the TVA's Little Pigeon at Sevierville (not the same as the USGS's Little Pigeon at Sevierville) gauge is between 1,500 and 3,000 cfs, Big Creek is running. Despite being located on the next watershed East, the USGS Cataloochee gauge isn't a very good predictor of Big Creek flows.

The Oconaluftee and TVA Little Pigeon at Sevierville flows are both available on the TVA Streamflows site and from the TVA by telephone: 800-238-2264.

Character: Continuous western-style flush creek run
Scenery: Very scenic despite occasional glimpses of horseback riders and hikers on the old railroad grade following the creek. This run is entirely within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Distance from Downtown Asheville (to take-out): 60 minutes
Length: Up to 5.4 miles
Season: March-April
Other sections: Upper Big Creek is a challenging class V creek run, while Lower Big Creek provides an excellent introduction to creeking for boaters with strong class IV skills.
Put-in: The wooden footbridge at Walnut Bottom, or as far upstream as you're willing to hike . . . (see shuttle description below!).
Take-out: The metal footbridge at the parking lot below the Big Creek NPS campground
Directions from Asheville (to take-out):

I-40 West to the first TN exit (Exit 451, Waterville). Turn left at the bottom of the ramp, pass under I-40, follow the road over the bridge, turn left and head up the Big Pigeon. The road will turn to follow Big Creek at its confluence with the Big Pigeon, crossing Big Creek twice. Stop at the second bridge and check the gauge. Then continue on to the road's end at the parking lot below the Big Creek Campground. The gravel road you'll cross just before entering the park is the scenic route to the Cataloochee Campground.

Shuttle: 1-2 hour hike. Park, pick up your boat and start hiking up the trail to Walnut Bottoms. The trail begins at the parking lot just downstream of the Big Creek NPS campground. Huff your boat as far upstream as you like. Big Creek is runnable at least as high up as Walnut Bottoms (5.4 river miles upstream), but most run out of gas a half mile or so upstream of the first bridge over the creek, a 2.5-3 mile hike (and run). Hiking the half-mile or so above the bridge yields two back-to-back miles falling 292 and 321 feet, respectively, with a 192 foot final mile to the take out. This is all runnable and extremely continuous gradient, with the single biggest vertical drop being the ten feet or so into Midnight Hole. The additional two plus miles gained by hiking all the way to Walnut Bottom are extremely nice and would seem steep almost anywhere else, but are seldom run due to the effort involved. An alternate route into Walnut Bottom is over the pass from Cosby.
Other access points: Many possible from the railroad grade following the creek, but all are accessible only by foot.
Camping: If it is open and you can snag a spot, the Big Creek campground would be a wonderful place to camp. However, there are only twelve campsites and they're very nice, so they're in high demand. Further, the campground is seldom open when Big Creek is running. Another option is the campground at Cataloochee, which can be reached from both the road over the low-water bridge at the put-in and a right turn off the road from the take-out to the Big Creek Campground. The Cataloochee campground is a little larger (twenty-seven sites), so the odds of getting a site are a little better. Also fairly close is the Cosby campground, which is much larger than either the Big Creek or Cataloochee campgrounds (175 sites). All three campgrounds are open from mid-March to the beginning of November; the Big Creek and Cataloochee campgrounds are $12 per site per night, and the Cosby campground is $14. For more information visit the NPS's Great Smoky Mountains Camping Page.
Gradient Upper Big Creek elevation profile. Copyright Chris Bell. Click for larger image.
 Average: 238 fpm
 By mile: 5.4 miles (from Walnut Bottom):
166, 212, 286, 302, 263, 134 fpm over last 0.4 miles
 Maximum: 500 fpm (over 0.08 miles, twice)
 Maximum half mile: 347 fpm
 Maximum mile: 321 fpm
Guides
 Online: American Whitewater's Upper Big Creek Page
 Print: None
Maps:
Photos: NC, SC and TN Rivers & Creeks Gallery
Other:

Combining Upper and Lower Big Creek yields a 7.3 mile run falling at an average of 216 fpm.

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Hazards include the extremely continuous gradient and frequent fallen trees. This is full on creeking; a safe run requires frequent scouting and great alertness to the possibility of downed limbs just under the water's surface and jammed in undercuts.

Midnight Hole is the vertical drop clearly visible from the trail on the hike in. It is an extremely popular swimming hole in the summer. Just upstream of Midnight Hole, at a point the trail comes very close to the creek, is Monster. On one recent run an extremely accomplished and well-known local paddler pitoned and pinned head underwater in Monster. Through good fortune another paddler in his party -- unaware of the pin -- ran the drop and knocked the pinned boat and paddler loose. The next boater down ran the drop unaware of the carnage below, pinned and swam. His broken boat stayed pinned for two days. Run the left line at Monster or walk it!

This is by no means a complete list of Upper Big Creek's hazards;Â such a list would be impossible to compile as it would constantly change as rocks shifted (the apparent cause of the recent problems on what used to be a popular line through Monster) and trees jammed.

This is a gorgeous run on a pristine river whose entire reach is within a National Park. Please respect other users and the natural environment. Minimize your impact in all ways possible.

Â

The Asheville Area Boating Beta Page:

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Copyright © 2000-2002 [Chris Bell (email), Asheville, NC].
All rights reserved.
Revised: November 29, 2002.

Â


StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2007-01-31 23:09:24

Editors



Boofing baby gorillla

Detail Trip Report  Boofing baby gorillla  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(119.82KB .jpeg)

Canoe - Midnight Hole

Detail Trip Report  Canoe - Midnight Hole  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(887.51KB .jpeg)

Baby Gorrilla Looking Back Up

Detail Trip Report  Baby Gorrilla Looking Back Up  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.74MB .jpeg)

Action Alley Baby Gorrila

Detail Trip Report  Action Alley Baby Gorrila   @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.16MB .jpeg)

Action Alley

Detail Trip Report  Action Alley  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.68MB .jpeg)

Monster NO H2O

Detail Trip Report  Monster NO H2O  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(2.08MB .jpeg)

Action Alley

Detail Trip Report  Action Alley  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.22MB .jpeg)

Midnight Hole Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Midnight Hole Upper Big Creek  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.15MB .jpeg)

SuperMan Put In

Detail Trip Report  SuperMan Put In  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(2.72MB .jpeg)

G-Spot Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  G-Spot Upper Big Creek  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.10MB .jpeg)

Natalie Matthews @ Second Island Layaway

Detail Trip Report  Natalie Matthews @ Second Island Layaway  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.02MB .jpeg)

Rapids Right After SuperMan

Detail Trip Report  Rapids Right After SuperMan  @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, NC(1.96MB .jpeg)

Mexico @ SuperMan Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Mexico @ SuperMan Upper Big Creek  Big Creek NC, NC(330.02KB .jpeg)

Big Drop on Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Big Drop on Big Creek  Big Creek, NC(32.44KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1013.27KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1010.44KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.15MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.10MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(987.39KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.13MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(821.09KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(674.32KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(762.41KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(850.47KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.09MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(764.20KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.30MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.32MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.32MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.15MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(988.07KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.03MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(984.10KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1005.11KB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.01MB .jpeg)

Upper Big Creek

Detail Trip Report  Upper Big Creek  Upper Big Creek, NC(1.04MB .jpeg)


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Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The readings above are for the Oconaluftee River, which is the next drainage to the south of Big Creek. Upper Big Creek is almost certainly running when the Oconaluftee is between 1,200 and 2,400 cfs;  it is generally running when the Oconoluftee is as low 850 cfs. 

It is often true that when the TVA's Little Pigeon at Sevierville (not the same as the USGS's Little Pigeon at Sevierville) gauge is between 1,500 and 3,000 cfs, Big Creek is likely to be running.

The main way to tell if BC is running is to pay attention to the rain. Pin Oak Gap is an excellent rain gauge for Big Creek. It is only 2 miles from the south side of the watershed, and usually if Pin Oak Gap gets rain, Big Creek gets it too. Look for an inch in the past 24 hours during times of good saturation, and 1.5 inches in drier times.

Cataloochee Creek is another indicator. If Cataloochee gets over 350-400 cfs, assuming even rainfall distribution, BC should be running. Usually though, there are usually acute local variations in rainfall totals between these two watersheds.

During wet times, BC is the most frequently running class 4-5 creek run of its character. It runs more often than the West Prong, Tremont, or Middle Prong/Ramsey's. It has been known to run for weeks during rainy summer periods, providing a sweet creeking fix nowhere else to be found.

Currently the only physical gauge is located on the Mt. Sterling Road bridge. The gauge is spray painted yellow and resides on the upstream side of the midstream river left pylon. This gauge is not located in a very good spot and has a significant surge. Take 10 readings every 3 seconds and average them to get a reading that most can agree on. Here is the breakdown on levels:

2.1-2.3 - You must be desparate.

2.3-2.5 - Some people might call you desparate but you can still get your boof on.

2.5-2.7 - This is the realm of legitimate low

2.7-3.0 - perfect for mortals, a nice medium

3.0-3.3 - medium high, with the 3.0 range being the perfect level, and the 3.3 range changing the run from class 4+ to intense and scary class 5.

3.3-3.8 - This is plain high. Many do it at 3.5 once and say that was enough. Fun, but enough. If you do it at 4 feet, once might be all you get from Big Creek ever again. Anything above 3.5 is officially too high for all but a few junkies.

It is often true that when the TVA's Little Pigeon at Sevierville (not the same as the USGS's Little Pigeon at Sevierville) gauge is between 1,500 and 3,000 cfs, Big Creek is likely to be running.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
OCONALUFTEE RIVER AT BIRDTOWN, NC
usgs-03512000 1200 - 2400 cfs IV-V 00h27m 594 cfs (rc= -0.5 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
1200 -2400 cfs barely runnable-high runnable IV-V

Report - Reports of Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Big Creek [NC] Monster from the bottom 2.7-2.9 Scott Darby
Big Creek [NC] TR on Midnite 2.5 Kirk Eddlemon
Big Creek [NC] Big Drop on Big Creek n/a Chris Bell
284d17h52m /Big Creek-1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground [NC] Boofing baby gorillla 0 cfs user: "samovett"
357d16h04m /Big Creek-1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground [NC] Canoe - Midnight Hole a good level Thomas DeVoe
2y138d13h05m @Big Creek 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground [NC] Upper Big Creek n/a royce cowan
2y192d16h41m Big Creek NC [NC] Upper Big Creek SuperMan n/a royce cowan
5y295d11h55m Upper Big Creek [NC] Upper Big Creek 3.5 mike lewis
5y353d11h55m Big Creek [NC] Just above put-in bridge 2.7-2.9 Scott Darby
6y345d11h55m Big Creek [NC] styln baby gorilla 2.9 ft. Andrew Gunnoe
8y303d11h55m Big Creek [NC] Big Creek 2.5 will reeves
8y315d11h55m Big Creek [NC] Upper Big Creek Around 3' Stuart Smith

WXPort

News





User Comments
2009-07-01 11:25:17 (954 days ago)
Mark SingletonDetails
Park Dispatch Office number (865) 436-1230 See BoaterTalk post:
http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1659925 June 25, 2009 - If you didn't catch it, an
overturned kayak was found just outside of the Smokies on the MP of the Little Pigeon. It spurred
a search and rescue scenario that was serious enough for it to be reported to local TV stations.
Not sure of the outcome and I hope everyone is OK. But this did raise a very significant question.
Who do we notify when we a boat gets pinned or gets out of our control in the Smokies and darkness
or other circumstances force us to abandon it for any period of time? My friend Russell asked this
question and this was his post on a local paddling list serve. I asked the GSMNP folks what would
be the best way to report a lost boat.Here is their reply: Hello, If there is a report of an
accident or missing person, the park responds and/or conducts a search, but just finding an empty
kayak in the water would not necessarily result in a full-fledged search and rescue effort as the
town of Pittman Center launched during the recent incident. If one of your club members loses a
boat, but is otherwise okay, please call the park's Dispatch Office at (865) 436-1230 to let them
know that an empty boat may be found and it is not an emergency situation. This is a non-emergency
line which is staffed from 6:00 a.m. - midnight, but if a serious accident or other emergency has
occurred in the park, sometimes all available dispatchers have to concentrate on radio
communications among responding units and don't answer the line. If there is an accident with a
serious injury or a member of your party is known to be missing, please call 911. Best regards,C.
BloomGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
2009-05-14 11:11:08 (1002 days ago)
There is a line but it is kind of scary. above it take a narrow slot in the middle and push into
the pool below then sart working to the left and make sure you have lots of left angle. power onto
the rock on the left and slide down it and over a couple of branches. If you dont then your stern
will most likely be caught by the current and drag you into the tree backwards. It is very doable
as myself and someone else did on monday but the risk is still there. Scout it no matter what and
decide for youself Edit
2009-05-04 05:20:34 (1012 days ago)
River wide tree down above midnight hole. Its right below mouse creek falls. No way around you must
portage... Edit
Users can submit comments.

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Associated Gauges

Disclaimer Data Sources

Little Pigeon at Sevierville,

n/a, .


OCONALUFTEE RIVER AT BIRDTOWN, NC,

594 cfs, 1640 minutes ago.


OCONALUFTEE RIVER AT BIRDTOWN, NC,

2 ft, 1640 minutes ago.


Oconaluftee at Birdtown,

n/a, .


General Nonmember Message


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 1. Walnut Bottom to NPS Campground, Big Creek North Carolina, US (mobile)